Lorenz



March 24, 1953 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 22, 1946 HIS ATTORNEY INVENTOR ANTON LORENZ March 24, 1953 A LO NZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 22, 1946 INVENTOR ANTON LORENZ BY *2 ATTORNEY March 24, 1953 A. LORENZ Re. 23,635

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.I2

mvsmon ANTON LORENZ BY .KTTORNEY March 24, 1953 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 22, 1946 FIGJT I NVENTOR ANTON LORENZ Z' is A'ITORNEY Reissued Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLINING ARTICLE or FURNITURE Anton Lorenz, Buflalo, N. Y.

Original No. 2,576,466, dated November 27, 1951,

Serial No. 642,652, January 22, 1946. Application for reissue March 2'1, 1952, Serial No.

16 Claims.

This invention relates to an article of furniture, and more particularly to a reclining article of furniture, wherein the back-rest and seat form movable members of a polygonal link-system swingably mounted on a support and wherein the movements of the members-oi said polygonal link-system are positively controlled by a guiding link pivoted to the support and operatively connected with a member of the polygonal linksystem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient controlling mechanism for a legrest swingably mounted on the seat of a reclining article of furniture of above described type, by means of which the angle between the legrest and the seat is automatically altered in dependence on the movements of the guiding link when the movable members of the reclining article of furniture including the back-rest and the seat are brought from a certain position, such as the sitting position, into another position, such as a reclined position, or vice Versa.

A further object of the present invention is to equip a reclining article of furniture of above described type with a controlling mechanism for the leg-rest, which may cause a movement of the leg-rest relative to the seat, when the position of the polygonal link-system is altered, which, however, does not form a positive connection between the leg-rest and the'controlling mechanism and permit an independent movement 01' the leg-rest relative to the seat, when the members of the polygonal link-system are held in a certain position relative to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to improve on reclining articles of furniture of Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: II appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

lounget according to the invention, a portion of Fig.5 is a sectional view of the locking device of the lounget shown in Fig. 4 taken on line H of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a reclining arm-chairaccording to the invention, a portion of a side wall of the chair being broken away,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of another emunit of the chair shown in Fig. '7 in its position,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a diflerent embodiment of a controlling unit which may be used in the chair shown in Fig. 7, i

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a controlling unit which may be used in the chair shown in Fig.1,

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of a reclining wheel chair according to the invention,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front portion of the wheel chair shown in Fig. 13, illustrating the holding device for the leg-rest,

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the holding device of the wheel chair shown in Fig. 13, taken on line i5-l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevatlonal view 01' the locking device of the wheel chair shown in Fig. 13, and

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a reclining arm-chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall of the support being broken away.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 22 generally indicates the support of a lounget. Said support 22 comprises the side frames 24, 25 connected with each other by transverse rods 28 and 30. The support 22 may be moved along the ground by means of wheels 32 (only one being shown) journalled in suitable bearings of the support.

The back-rest 34 and the rear portion of a seat 36 are coaxially pivoted to the support 22 at 38. The back-rest 34 has a downward extension Ill substantially in the center of the lounget. The rear end of a connecting link 42,

hereinafter called a lower connecting link, is

each other at 48 form a link mechanism. Said downward extension 48, said link mechanism 42, 48 and said seat 88 form the movable members of a constrained kinematic polygonal link-system in the shape of a quadrilateral link-system which is swingably mounted on the support 22 at 88 for movement about a single axis. The

movements of the movable members 48, 42, 48,

88 of said quadrilateral link-system are controlled by a guiding link 52, the lower end of which is connected with the pivotal connection 48 between the connecting links 42 and 48. The upper end of said guiding link 52 is rigidly connected with a transverse rod 54 journalled in suitable bearings 01' the support 22 (see Figs. 1 and 2). One end of a telescopic controlling element of controlling bar 58 is also rigidly connected with said transverse rod 54, so that said controlling bar 58 participates in the movements of the guiding link 52. The element 58 slidably arranged in the hollow element 88 of the telescopic controlling bar 58 may be held in any de sired position relative to said hollow element 88 by means of a set screw 82. A roller 84 journalled in said element 58 of the telescopic controlling bar 58 is in shiftable engagement with a leg-rest 88 swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat 88 at 58. Thus, when the occupant of the lounget leans the weight of his body against the back-rest 84, whereby the latter is swung about its pivot 88 into a reclined po sition, for example the position 84', the seat 88 controlled by the movements of the guiding link 52 is brought into the reclined position 88', and the leg-rest 88 is swung by means of the controlling bar 58 about its pivot'58 into the reclined position 88' in dependence on the movements of the guiding link 52.

The sitting position of the movable members of the lounget shown in full lines is limited by the transverse rod 88 of the support 22 forming a stop on which the seat 888 comes to a rest. The extreme reclined position 01' the movable members of the lounget shown in dash and dot lines is limited by a stop 88 mounted on the support 22 for cooperation with the back-rest.

The movable members of the lounget may be held in said extreme reclined position or in any other intermediate reclined position by means of a locking device generally indicated by 18. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. said locking device 18 comprises a locking rod 12 swingably mounted on the extension 48 oi the back-rest 84 at 14. The free end of said locking rod 12 is in slidable engagement with a clamping sleeve 18 having bores 18 for engagement with a bolt 88. Said bolt 88 having a head 82 and passing through apertures 84, 88 of the side frame 24 has a threaded end for engagement with the threaded bore of a locking knob 88. A square portion 88 of the bolt 88 engaged with the corresponding square aperture 84 of the tubular side frame 24 prevents the bolt 88 from rotation when the knob 88 is turned. When the locking knob 88 is loosened, the locking rod 12 may freely slide in the clamping sleeve I8, so that the movable members of the lounget may be readily moved from one position into another one. When the locking knob 88 is tightened, the

4 clamping sleeve I8 is tightly pressed on the looking rod 12, whereby the latter and the movable members of the lounget are held in their position. Of course, any other suitable locking device may be used instead of the locking device 18 shown in the drawings.

As mentioned above, the controlling bar 58 is of the telescopic type, so that its efl'ective length may be varied and adjusted by loosening the set screw 82 displacing the member 58 relative to the hollow member 88, and holding the member 58 in the displaced position by tightening againstthe set screw 82. When the movable members of the quadrilateral link-system 88, 48, 42, 48 are held in a certain position by means of the stop 38 or by means of the locking device 18, the angle between the leg-rest 88 and the seat 88 may be altered by means of such an adjustment of the efiective length of the tele soopic controlling bar 58.

According to the embodiment of a lounget shown in Fig. 4, the back-rest 284 is pivoted to the support 222 at 288. The rear end of the seat 288 is pivoted to said support 222 at 288 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 288 between the back-rest 284 and the support 222. The back-rest 284 has an offset downward extension 248 pivoted to the rear end of the lower connecting link 242 at 244. The other end of said lower connecting link 242 is pivotally connected with one end of an intermediate connecting link 282 at 284. The other end of said intermediate connecting link 282 is pivoted at 288 to one end of the front connecting link 248, the other end of which is pivoted to the seat 288 at 258. Thus, the downward extension 248, the link-mechanism 242, 282, 248 and the seat 288 form the movable members and the portion of the support 222 between the pivots 288 and 288 forms the stationary member of a constrained kinematic polygonal link-system in the shape of a hexagonal-linksystem. The movements of the movable members of said hexagonal link-system are controlled by a guiding link 252, the upper end of which is pivoted to the support 222 at 254, and the lower end of which is rigidly connected with the intermediate connecting link 282. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, said guiding link 252 is integral with the intermediate connecting link 282, but of course the guiding link and the intermediate connecting link could be made of two separate pieces rigidly connected with each other by suitable means, for example screws.

The movements oi the leg-rest 288 swingably' mounted on the seat 288 at 258 are controlled by the following mechanism in dependence on the movements of the guiding link 252. One end of the controlling bar 258 is rigidly connected with an intermediate point of the guiding link 252. According to Fig. 4, the controlling bar 2581s integral with the guiding link 252, but of course, the controlling bar and the guiding link could be made of two separate members rigidly connected with each other by suitable means, for example screws. The other end of said controlling bar 258 is provided with a series of holes 288. A pivot 288 pivotally connecting one end of a telescopic controlling link 2! withsaid controlling bar 258 may be selectively engaged with One hole of said series of holes 288 whereby the effective length of the controlling bar 258 may be adjusted. The leg-rest 288 is provided with a series of was 288, each of which has a bore 285. A pivot 281 may be selectively engaged with a bore 285 of said series or lugs 288 for a pivotal connection of the aaoss other end of the controlling link "I with 'the leg-rest 266. The selective engagement of the pivot 281 with a bore of one of said series of lugs 288 permits an adjustment of the pivotal connection between the controlling link 2" and the leg-rest 286"relative to the leg-rest. Further more, the efiective length of the controlling link 20! may be varied and adjusted by loosening the j set screw 208, displacing the slidable member 2 ll relative to the hollow member 2l8 of the telescopic controlling link 2M and holding the slidable member 2 in the displaced position by tightening the set screw 208.

When the back-rest 284 is swing about its pivot 288 into a reclined position, for example the extreme reclined position 234', the seat as is swung on the seat 286 at 2l5. Said locking rod 212 is slidably engaged with a clamping sleeve 216 having bores 218for engagement with a bolt 280. Said bolt 280 has ,a square portion 290 inserted into a corresponding square aperture of the frame of the support 222. A collar 2 I1 is placedon the bolt 288 between the surface of the support 222 and the clamping sleeve 216. The head 282 of the bolt 288 rests against a surface of the frame of the support 222, and a locking knob 288 is screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 280. When the adjusting knob 288 is loosened, the locking rod 212 may freely slide in the clamping sleeve ,216, so that the movable members of the lounget may be freely moved from one position 4 may be converted into a couch-like furniture, when the back-rest is held by the support 222 in said substantially horizontal position 284" substantially in alignment with the seat 286 held in its sitting position by the support 222. When the telescopic controlling link 28! is of the adjusted effective length as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, and when its ends are pivoted at 200 and 201 with the controlling bar 256 and the leg-rest 266 respectively as shown in full lines, the leg-rest 266 is likewise held in a substantially horizontal position in alignment with the seat 286.

when the seat 286 is held in a certain position either by the locking device 210 or by the upper edge of the support 222, the leg-rest 266 may be i, brought into a different position relative to the seat 286 by varying the effective length of the telescopic link 20! and/or by varying the efl'ective length of the controlling bar 256 and/or by connecting the controlling link 20l' with a different lug 208. If, for example, the effective length of the controlling link 20! and its pivotal connection 201 with the center lug 208 remains unchanged, if, however, the pivot 200 passing through a bore of the controlling link 20l in inserted into the hole 288a of the controlling bar 256, the leg-rest is brought into the position 2659.. Now, when all pivotal connections of the a link mechanism 242, 292, 248, are in active eninto another one. When the locking knob 288 is tightened, the clamping sleeve 216 is tightly pressed against the locking rod 212, whereby the latter and the seat 286 and those movable members of the lounget which are positively connected with the seat are held in their position.

The locking rod 212 has a series of bores 2l8. A pin 22l passing through a hole of a stop collar 268 adjustably arranged on the locking rod 212 may be selectlvey engaged with one hole of the series of holes 2", whereby said stop collar 268 is held in a predetermined position on the locking rod 212. When the seat 286 is lifted, the looking rod 212 slides in the clamping sleeve 216 until the stop collar 268 abuts against said clamping sleeve, whereby the extreme reclined position 286' of the seat and the extreme reclined position of the other movable members of the lounget positively connected with the seat is limited. As will be readily understood, said extreme reclined position of the various movable members of the lounget may be. varied and adjusted by a corresponding adjustment of the position of the stop collar 268 on the locking rod 212. The substantially horizontal sitting position of the seat 286 is limited by the ,upper edge of the support 222 on which the seat comes to a rest.

At least one pivotal connection of the linkmechanism 242, 282, 248, for example the pivotal connection 244 is disengageable, so that the backrest 284 may be swung independently of the seat 286 about its pivot 288, for example into the position 284" wherein it abuts against the upper edge of the support. Thus, the lounget shown in Fig.

gagement, when for example the pivotal connection 244 between the lower connecting link 242 and the extension 240 of the back-rest 284 is reinstated, the leg-rest will reach the position 266a, when the back-rest and the seat are swungv into the extreme reclined position 284', 286'.

According to the embodiment of a reclining arm-chair shown in Fig. 6, the back-rest 884 and the seat 886 are coaxially pivoted to the connected side frames of the support 822 at 888. The rear end of the link mechanism comprising the lower connecting link 842 pivotally connected at 86 6 with the front connecting link 848 is pivotally connected with thedownward extension 840 of the back-rest 884 at 844. The front end of said link mechanism 842, 848 is pivoted to the seat 886 at 850. The movements of the quadrilateral link-system 886, 840, 842, 848 are controlled by' the guiding link 852, the lower end of which is pivoted to the connecting link 842 at 845. The upper portion of said guiding link 852 is swingably mounted on the support 822 at 854.

The leg-rest 866 swingably mounted on the seat 886 at 85l has an upward extension 828 projecting beyond the pivotal connection 851 between the leg-rest 866 and the seat 886. One end of a controlling link is pivoted at 881 to said extension 828' of the leg-rest 866, and the other end of said controlling link I is pivoted at 800 to a controlling bar 856 integral with the guiding link 852. I

When the back-rest 884 is swung from the sitting position shown in full lines into the extreme reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, the

seat 886 and the leg-rest 866 are brought from,

the position shown in full lines into the position shown in dash and dot lines by the control of the guiding link 852.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by the cross bar 880 of, the support 822 cooperating with the downward extension 840 of the back-rest 884, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by the cross bar 868 of the support 822 cooperating with the back-rest 884.

The movable members of the chair may be held aaess in any'desired position by means of the locking device 315.

According to the embodiment of a reclining chair shown in Fig. 7; the back-rest 434 is pivoted to the casing-like support 422 at 435. The rear end of the seat 435 is swingably mounted on said support 422 at 433 at a point spaced from the.

pivotal connection 435 between the back-rest 434 and the support 422. downward extension 440. On each side of the chair, the rear end of a lower connecting link 442 is pivoted to said downward extension 440 at 444; Each lower connecting links 442 is pivotally connected at 445 with one end of a front connecting link 445, the other end of which is pivoted to the seat 435 at 450. On each side of the chair, the lower end of a guiding link 452 is pivoted to the lower connecting link 442 at 445. As best shown in Figs. 7, 9. and 10, each guiding link 452 in gral with a controlling bar 455 is rigidly conn ted with a transverse rod 454 rotatably arranged in recesses 425 of the side walls 424, 425 of the support 422. Said recesses 425 are open at the top. Thus, the controlling unit 453 formed by the transverse rod 454 and the two members 452, 455 rigidly connected with each other may be readily inserted into the recesses 425 of the support 422 from above. Safety blocks 421 attached to the side walls of the support 422 by screws may hold said unit 453 in its position when inserted into said recesses 425. Collars 423 arranged on the rod 454 between the members 452, 455 and the side walls of the support 422 prevent an axial displacement of the unit 453. Thus, the guiding link 452 is again swingably mounted on the support 422 and may control the movements or the movable members of the quinquelateral link-system formed by the movable members 440, 442, 445, 435 and the stationary member of the portion of the support 422 between the pivots 425 and 435. An adjusting element or bar I (see Figs. 7 and 8) is swingably mounted at 432 on each controlling bar 455. A stop 435 secured to the controllin bar 455 by screws is arranged for engagement with the.

swingable adjusting bar 4:, so as to hold same in alignment with the controlling bar 455 as shown in full lines in Fig. '7. One end of a controlling link 4|l| is pivoted to said swingable adjusting bar 43l at 431,-the other end of said controlling link 4M is pivoted at 401 to the legrest 455 swingably mounted on the seat 435 at 45l. Each controlling link 4M and each adjusting bar 43! may Pass through a slot 44! in the front wall 443 of the support 422.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines in Fig. 7 is limited by the upper edge of the support 422 on which the seat 435 comes to a rest.

When the back-rest 434 is swung about its pivot 435, the back-rest, seat, and leg-rest may be brought into the extreme reclined position 434', 435', 455', limited by an abutment of the back-rest against the stop 458 mounted on the support 422.

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position by means of the locking device 415.

As mentioned above, the adjusting bar "I is swingable about the pivot 433. If the back-rest and seat are held in a predetermined position, for example the sitting position shown in full lines in Fig. '7, by means of the locking device 410, the leg-rest 455 may be swung by hand about its pivot 45l into the position 455a, wherein the The back-rest 434 has a s 8 controlling link and the adjusting bar are in the positions la and "Na in alignment with each other. Now, when a slight pressure is exerted on the leg-rest,for example by the legs of the occupant resting in the chair, the controlling link and the adjusting bar are moved slightly beyond said straight line, until a stop 441 secured to the adjusting bar 43l by screws abuts against the controlling link, whereby said elements are locked and held in a predetermined position relative to each other. 1

Fig. 11 illustrates a different embod'ment of a controlling unit 453b, which may be substituted for the controlling unit 453 shown in Fig. 8. Said controlling unit 453b is made of an integral piece of material in such a shape, that two guiding links 452b and a single controlling bar 455b are formed. Oi course, if the controlling unit 453b is used, only a single controlling link is arranged for connectin the single controlling bar 45Gb with the leg-rest.

Fig. 12 illustrates a further embodiment of a controlling unit 4530 which may be substituted for the controlling unit 453 shown in Fig. 9. According to Fig. 12, the controlling unit 453c is composed of a plurality of members rigidly connected with each other by rivets 449a or the like. The members of the controlling unit 4530 are shaped so as to form two guiding links 452s and a single controlling bar 4550.

According to the embodiment of a reclining wheel chair shown in Fig. 13, the support 522 is provided with wheels 532 of any conventional construction. The side frames of the support 522 are connected with each other by transverse rods 525.

The back-rest 534 is pivoted to the support 522 at 535. The seat 535 is pivoted to said support 522 at 539 spaced from the pivot 535. The rear end of a lower connecting link 542 arranged on each side of the wheel chair is pivoted to the downward extension 540 of the back-rest at 544. The other end of said lower connecting link 542 is pivoted at 545 with the lower end of the guiding link 552 and one'end of the front connecting link 545. The upper end of said front connecting link 543 is pivoted at 550 to the seat 535.

The leg-rest 556 swingably mounted on the seat 535 at 552 has an upward extension 523. A controlling bar 555 integral with the guiding link 552 swingably mounted on the support 522 I at 554 has a controlling surface 555 in the shape of a cam, which is in loose contact with said extension 523 of the leg-rest 555. The extension 523 of the leg-rest may be held against said controlling cam 555 by means of a spring (not shown). When the controllin cam 555 of the controlling bar 555 is in engagement with said extension 523 of the leg-rest 555, the movements of the leg-rest are controlled in dependence on the movements of the guiding link.552. Thus, if the back-rest 535 is swung about its pivot 538 into the reclined position 534', the seat 535 and the leg-rest 555 controlled by said guiding link 552 are brought into the position 535 and 555'.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by the stop 530 mounted on the support 522, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by the adjustable stop collar 558 mounted on the locking rod 512 of the locking device generally indicated by 510. Said locking device 515 with the adjustable stop collar 55!! is of the same general organization as the lockeases int device 216 described above in connection the clamping sleeve 516 and the locking knob 666 is mounted on a bracket 551 attached to a side frame of the support 522.

As mentioned above, the controlling cam 555 is in loose contact with the extension 526 of the leg-rest 566, so that the leg-rest 566 with its extension 526 may be disengaged from said controlling cam 555, when the seat 566 is held by the locking device 516 in a certain position. For example, the extension 526 of the leg-rest 666 may be grasped by hand, and the leg-rest may be swung into the position 566a, while the seat 566 remains in the sitting position shown in full lines. A holding device generally indicated by 556 and mounted on the seat 566 may be used for holding the leg-rest 566 in a certain position, for example said position 556a relative to the seat 566. As best shown in Figs. 14 and 15. said holding device 559 comprises a rod 56! s'lidably engaged with a clamping sleeve 566 having bores 565 for receiving a bolt 561 mounted on a lug 566 attached to the seat 566. A square portion of the bolt 561 having a head 516 is engaged with a corresponding square aperture of the lug 566. so that the bolt 561 is prevented from rotation when a locking knob 515 screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 561 is turned. Assuming the rod 561 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, and the leg-rest has been swung by hand from the position shown in full lines into the position 566a. In order to hold said leg-rest in said position 566a, the locking knob 515 of the holding device 556 is loosened, whereupon the rod 56| may be axially displaced in the clamping sleeve 566 until it abuts against said leg-rest in the position 566a as shown in dash and dot lines. Now, the locking knob 515 is tightened, whereby the clamping sleeve 566 is tightly pressed on the rod 56l so as to hold same and the leg-rest in the dash of the locking device 516 the movable members the seat 666 at 656. The leg-rest 666 and the controlling bar 656 may pass through a slot 641 in the front wall of the support 622. The movable downward extension 646, the movable links 642, 662, 646 and the movable seat 666 form the movable members of a constrained kinematic vpolygonal link-system in the shape of a quinquelateral link-system swingably mounted on the support at 666.

When the leg-rest 666 is in engagement with the controlling roller 611 and the back-rest 664 is swung about its pivot 636 into the extreme reclined position 664, the seat and the leg-rest of the chair is limited by'a stop 666 mounted on the support 622 for cooperation with the downward extension 646 of the back-rest 664, and the extreme reclined position is limited by the stop collar 666 adjustably mounted on the locking rod 612 of the locking device 616.

example into the position 66611., The leg-rest of the-chair are brought into a reclined position, the leg-rest will remain in said position 566a relative to the seat 566 until the controlling cam 565 of the controlling bar 556 abuts against the extension 526 of the leg-rest 566. If, after such an abutment, the movement of the movable members of the wheel chair is continued, the position of the leg-rest 566 relative to the seat 566 is altered by the controlling cam 555 in 56 oted at 664 to an intermediate connecting link 662, which, in turn, is pivoted at 666 to one end of the front connecting link 646. The upper end of said front connecting link 646 is pivoted to the seat 666 at 656. A guiding link 652 integral with .the intermediate connecting link 652 is swingably mounted on the support at 654. A bent controlling bar 656 integral with the guiding link 652 carries a controlling surface in the shape of a roller 611 for loose contact with the leg-rest 666 swingably mounted on may be held in said position 666a by means of a holding device 656 mounted on the seat 666. The holding device 656 is of the same construction as the holding device shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

It is understood, that certain parts, elements, or mechanisms shown in a certain figure may be substituted for corresponding parts, elements, or mechanisms of the embodiments shown in other figures of the drawings.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion, and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those, herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention'as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a downward extension of a back-rest-member, a guiding link and a chain of connecting links including a lower connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other 60 end of the chain, at least one of said connecting links being arranged below the plane of the seatmember, the upper end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, the lower end of saidguiding link being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said lower connecting link being pivoted to the downward extension of the back-rest-member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restandseat-members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat-member, a controlling member fixedly connected to said guiding link, and means, interposed between said controlling membar and said leg-rest, for eflecting movement of I the latter in coordination with said controlling of the seat-member, the upper end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, the lower end of said guiding link being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said lower connecting link being pivoted to the downward extension of the back-rest-member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restand seat members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat-member, a controlling member fixedly connected to said guiding link, and a controlling link pivoted at its rear end to said controlling member and at its front end to said leg-rest.

3. In an articleof repose as claimed in claim 2 said controlling link being of adjustable length, and means for maintaining a predetermined ad- Justment in the length of said controlling link.

4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, first holding means arranged on said article for cooperation with the seat-member so as to holdsame in a substantially horizontal sitting position, at least one connection of said chain of connecting links being disengageable so as to permit a swinging oi the back-rest-member into a substantially horizontal position independently of the seat-member, and second holding means arranged on said article for cooperating with the back-rest-member so as to hold same in said substantially horizontal position.

5. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, first holding means arranged on said article for cooperation with the seat-member so as to hold same in a substantially horizontal sitting position, at least one connection of said chain of connecting links being disengageable so as to permit a swinging of the back-rest-member into a substantially horizontal position independently of the seat-member, second holding means arranged on said article for cooperation with the backrest-member so as to hold same in said substantially horizontal position, said controlling link beingof adjustable length, and means for maintaining a predetermined adjustment in the length of said controlling link so as to hold said leg-rest in a substantially horizontal position.

6. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 2, said controlling member extending upwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the guiding link and the support, said leg-rest having an extension proiecting upwardly beyond its pivotal connection with the seat-member, and the front end of said controlling link being pivoted to said extension of the leg-rest.

7.'An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a downward extension of a back-rest-member, a guiding link and a chain of connecting links including a lower connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, at least one of said connecting links being arranged below the plane of the seat-member, the upper end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, the lower end of said guiding link being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said lower connecting link being pivoted to the downward extension of the back-rest-member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restand seatmembers with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat-member, a controlling member fixedly connected to 'said guiding link, an adjusting bar swingably mounted on said controlling member, a controlling link pivoted at its rear end to said adjusting bar and at its front end to said leg-rest, and means associated with said controlling member and said adjusting bar for holding the latter in a predetermined position relative to said controlling member.

8. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 7. means associated with said adjusting bar and said controlling link for holding said adjusting bar in a predetermined position relative to said controlline link.

9. An article of repose for supporting the body of a. person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said sunport, said movable links including a seat-member, a downward extension of a back-rest-member, a guiding link and a chain of connecting links including a lower connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, at least one of said connecting links being arranged below the plane of the seat member, one end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, the other end of said guiding link being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said lower connecting link being pivoted to the downward extension of the back-rest-member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat member, means pivotally connecting at least one 0) said back-restand seat-members with said support, a leg-rest swingobly mounted on the front portion of said seat member, a controlling member fixedly connected to said guiding link, and means, interposed between said controlling member and said leg-rest, for eflecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling member.

10. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a. plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-memher, a downward extension of a back-rest-member, a guiding link and a chain 0/ connecting links including a lower connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, at least one of said connecting links being arranged below the plane of the seat-member, one end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, the other end of said guiding link being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said lower connecting link being pivoted to the downward extension of the back-rest-member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restand seat-members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat-member, a controlling member fixedly connected to said guiding link, and a controlling link pivoted at its rear end to said controlling member and at its front end to said leg-rest.

11. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 10, said controlling link being of adjustable length, and means for maintaining a predetermined adjustment in the length of said controlling link.

12. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 9, first holding means arranged on said article for cooperation with the seat-member so as to hold some in a substantially horizontal sitting positicn, at least one connection of said chain of conne;ting links being disengageable so as to permit a swinging of the back-rest-member into a substantially horizontal position independently of the seat-member, and second holding means arranged on said article for cooperating with the back-rest-rnember so as to hold some in said substantially horizontal position.

13. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 9, first holding means arranged on said article for cooperation with the seat-member so as to hold same in a substantially horizontal sitting position, at least one connection of said chain of connecting links being disengageable so as to permit a swinging of the back-rest-member into a substantially horizontal position independently of the seat-member, second holding means arranged on said article for cooperation with the back-restmember so as to hold some in said substantially horizontal position, said controlling link being of adjustable length, and means for maintaining a predetermined adjustment in the length of said controlling link so as to hold said. leg-rest in a substantially horizontal position. I

14. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 10, said controlling member extending upwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the guiding link and the support, said leg-rest having an extension projecting upwardly beyond its pivotal connection with the seat-member. and the front end of said controlling link being pivoted to said extension of the leg-rest.

15. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a downward extension of a back-rest-memher, a guiding link and a chain of connecting links including a lower connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, at least one of said connecting links being arranged below the plane of the seat member, one end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, the other end of said guiding link being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said lower connect ing link being pivoted to the downward extension of the back-rest-member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restand seat-members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat-member, a controlling member fixedly connected to sci. guiding link, an adjusting bar swingably mounted on said controlling member, a controlling link pivoted at its rear end to said adjusting bar and at its front end to said leg-rest, and means associated with said controlling member and said adjusting bar for holding the latter in a predetermined position relative to said controlling member.

16. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 15, means associated with said adjusting bar and said controlling link for holding said adjusting bar in a predetermined position relative to said controlling link.

ANTON LORENZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 58,343 Hall Sept. 25, 1886 712,743 Van Slyke Nov. 4, 1902 941,555 Berzon Nov. 30, 1909 2227,597 Luckhardt Jan. '7, 1941 2,433,521 Lorenz Dec. 30, 1947 2,578,708 Lorenz Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 39,393 Germany June 9, 1887 

